초록 ▼

A vest is provided that may be quickly and easily removed from a wearer of the vest. The vest includes a waist belt, a cummerbund, and shoulder straps which may be easily released from the vest by the use of a flexible retainer in cooperation with a connector device secures the waist belt, cummerbun

A vest is provided that may be quickly and easily removed from a wearer of the vest. The vest includes a waist belt, a cummerbund, and shoulder straps which may be easily released from the vest by the use of a flexible retainer in cooperation with a connector device secures the waist belt, cummerbund and shoulder straps to the vest in a releasable manner. A cable portion of the retainer moves in a generally straight line except for accommodating curved portions of the body of the wearer. An accessory pouch may also be provided which uses a strap and loop arrangement on the vest and pouch to attach the accessory pouch to the vest.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A cut away vest comprising: a first torso panel; a second torso panel; shoulder straps connected to the first torso panel, and extending to the second torso panel, at least one said shoulder strap having a free end and at least one first connector element; a waist belt

The invention claimed is: 1. A cut away vest comprising: a first torso panel; a second torso panel; shoulder straps connected to the first torso panel, and extending to the second torso panel, at least one said shoulder strap having a free end and at least one first connector element; a waist belt having at least one side portion with a free end connecting a lower portion of one of the first torso panel and second torso panel to the other of the first torso panel and second torso panel, said belt side portion having at least one second connector element; a cummerbund associated with at least one of the first and second torso panels and having at least one side portion with a first free end overlying a portion of the second torso panel adjacent at least one connector device, said cummerbund having at least one third connector element associated with a respective said cummerbund side portion with a free end; said at least one connector device connected to the second torso panel and selectively operably associated with a respective at least one of the first, second and third connector elements; and a flexible retainer element carried by at least one of the first and second torso panels to releasably retain the first, second and third connector elements associated each with a respective said connector device whereby a portion of the retainer element is movable in a generally straight line from the connector device to a curved body portion of a vest wearer to release the first, second and third connector elements from their respective connector device. 2. A cut away vest as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first, second and third connector elements including holes through a portion of said at least one shoulder strap at least one waist belt side portion and at least one said cummerbund side portion respectively. 3. A cut away vest as set forth in claim 2 wherein each said shoulder strap has a free end and at least one first connector element, said waist belt having at least two side portions with free ends with each waist belt side portion having at least one second connector element and said cummerbund having at least two side portions with free ends with each cummerbund side portion having at least one third connector element, said at least one connector device being one connector device operably associated with at least one of said first connector elements in each of the shoulder straps, at least one said second connector element in each of said waist belt side portions and at least one said third connector element in each of the cummerbund side portions. 4. A cut away vest as set forth in claim 3 wherein the first, second and third connector elements include holes and said connector device includes a flexible loop attached to the second torso panel selectively extendable through holes of the first, second and third connector elements. 5. A cut away vest as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of the shoulder straps, waist belt side portions and cummerbund side portions having a plurality of first, second and third connector elements respectively in spaced apart relation to provide adjustability of length of the shoulder straps, waist belt, and cummerbund. 6. A cut away vest as set forth in claim 4 wherein there is a single flexible loop extendible through holes comprising the first, second and third connector elements in the shoulder straps, waist belt and cummerbund respectively. 7. A cut away vest as set forth in claim 4 wherein the flexible retainer element including a flexible cable extending from the connector device to the first torso panel, said flexible retainer element also including a handle portion adjacent an end of the cable and carried by the first torso panel. 8. A cut away vest comprising: a front torso panel; a rear torso panel; shoulder straps connected to the front torso panel and extending therefrom to the rear torso panel, at least one said shoulder strap having a free end and at least one first connector element; a waist belt having at least one side portion with a free end, said waist belt connecting a lower portion of one of the front torso panel and rear torso panel to the other of the first torso panel and rear torso panel, said at least one belt side portion having at least one second connector element; a cummerbund associated with the rear torso panel and having at least two side portions with first ends positionable at the front of a vest wearer and having at least one of the cummerbund side portions with a second free end overlying a portion of the rear torso panel adjacent at least one connector device, said cummerbund having a third connector element; said at least one connector device connected to the rear torso panel and selectively operably associated with a respective at least one of the first, second and third connector elements; and a flexible retainer element at least partially carried by the rear torso panel to releasably retain the first, second and third connector elements associated each with a respective said connector device whereby a portion of the retainer element is movable in a generally straight line from the connector device to a curved body portion of a vest wearer to release the first and second connector elements from their respective connector device. 9. A cut away vest as set forth in claim 8 wherein the first, second and third connector elements including holes through a portion of said at least one shoulder strap, said at least one waist belt side portion and said at least one cummerbund side portion respectively. 10. A cut away vest as set forth in claim 9 wherein each said shoulder strap having a free end and at least one first connector element, said waist belt having at least two side portions each with a free end with each waist belt side portion having at least one second connector element and said cummerbund having at least two side portions each with a free end and at least one third connector element in each cummerbund side portion, said at least one connector device being one connector device operably associated with at least one said first connector element in each of the shoulder straps, at least one said second connector element in each of said waist belt side portions and at least one said third connector elements in each of the cummerbund side portions. 11. A cut away vest as set forth in claim 10 wherein the first, second and third connector elements including holes and said connector device including a flexible loop attached to the rear torso panel selectively extendable through holes of the first, second and third connector elements. 12. A cut away vest as set forth in claim 11 wherein each of the shoulder straps, waist belt side portions and cummerbund side portions having a plurality of first, second and third connector elements respectively in spaced apart relation to provide adjustability of length of the shoulder straps, waist belt, and cummerbund. 13. A cut away vest as set forth in claim 11 wherein there is a single flexible loop extendible through holes comprising the first, second and third connector elements in the shoulder straps, waist belt and cummerbund respectively. 14. A cut away vest as set forth in claim 11 wherein the flexible retainer element including a flexible cable extending from the connector device to the front torso panel and passable over the shoulder of a vest wearer, said flexible retainer element also including a handle portion adjacent an end of the cable and carried by the front torso panel. 15. A cut away vest comprising: a front torso panel; a rear torso panel; shoulder straps connected to the front torso panel extending therefrom to the rear torso panel, each said shoulder strap having a free end and at least one first connector element; a waist belt having at least two side portions each with a free end and connecting a lower portion of the front torso panel to the rear torso panel, said belt side portions each having at least one second connector element; a cummerbund associated with the rear torso panel and having at least two side portions each with first and second ends, said cummerbund side portions each having a third connector element; a multi-orientation connector device connected to the rear torso panel and selectively operably associated with the first, second and third connector elements; and a flexible retainer element at least partially carried by the rear torso panel and having one cable portion operable to releasably retain the first, second and third connector elements engaged each with the connector device whereby a portion of the cable portion extending from the connector device to a curved body portion of a vest wearer moves in a generally straight line to release the first, second and third connector elements from the connector device. 16. A cut away vest as set forth in claim 15 wherein the vest includes a plurality of rows of loops in vertically and horizontally spaced relationship and including a separate pouch with at least one mounting strap extending from adjacent a top portion of the pouch and having a plurality of loops on the back side of the pouch spaced vertically to fit between horizontal rows of the loops on the vest, said pouch strap alternately extending through the pouch and vest loops thereby removably securing the pouch to the vest. 17. A cut away vest comprising: a first torso panel; a second torso panel; shoulder straps connected to the first torso panel and extending to the second torso panel, at least one said shoulder strap having a free end and at least one first connector element; a waist belt having at least one side portion with a free end connecting a lower portion of one of the first torso panel and second torso panel to the other of the first torso panel and second torso panel, said belt side portion having at least one second connector element; a cummerbund associated with at least one of the first and second torso panels and having at least one side portion with a first free end overlying a portion of the second torso panel adjacent at least one said connector device, said cummerbund having at least one third connector element associated with a respective said cummerbund side portion with a free end; at least one connector device connected to the second torso panel and selectively operably associated with a respective at least one of the first, second and third connector elements; and a flexible retainer element carried by at least one of the first and second torso panels to releasably retain the first, second and third connector elements associated each with a respective said connector device and operable to selectively release the first, second and third connector elements from their respective connector device. 18. A cut away vest comprising: a front torso panel; a rear torso panel; shoulder straps connected to the front torso panel and extending to the rear torso panel, at least one said shoulder strap having a free end and at least one first connector element; a waist belt having at least one side portion with a free end connecting a lower portion of the front torso panel to the rear torso panel, said belt side portion having at least one second connector element; a cummerbund associated with at least one of the front and rear torso panels and having at least one side portion with a first free end overlying a portion of the rear torso panel adjacent at least one connector device, said cummerbund having at least one third connector element associated with a respective said cummerbund side portion with a free end; said at least one connector device connected to the rear torso panel and selectively operably associated with a respective at least one of the first, second and third connector elements to connect the at least one shoulder strap the at least one side portion of the waist belt and the at least one side portion of the cummerbund to the rear torso portion; and a flexible retainer element carried by at least one of the front and rear torso panels to releasably retain the first, second and third connector elements associated each with a respective said connector device and operable to selectively release the first, second and third connector elements from their respective connector device. 19. A cut away vest comprising: a front torso panel; a rear torso panel; shoulder straps connected to the front torso panel and extending to the rear torso panel, said shoulder straps each having a free end and at least one first connector element; a waist belt having at least two side portions each with a free end connecting a lower portion of the front torso panel to the rear torso panel said belt side portions each having at least one second connector element; a cummerbund associated with at least one of the front and rear torso panels and having at least two side portions each with a first free end overlying a portion of the rear torso panel adjacent at least one connector device, said cummerbund having at least one third connector element associated with a respective said cummerbund side portion; said at least one connector device connected to the rear torso panel and selectively operably associated with a respective at least one of the first, second and third connector elements to connect the shoulder straps, the waist belt and the cummerbund to the rear torso portion; and a flexible retainer element with a flexible cable carried by at least one of the front and rear torso panels to releasably retain the first, second and third connector elements associated each with a respective said connector device and operable to selectively release the first, second and third connector elements from their respective connector device. 20. A cut away vest as set forth in claim 19 wherein the connector device including a multi orientation loop. 21. A cut away vest as set forth in claim 20 wherein the flexible retainer element including only one said flexible cable. 22. A cut away vest as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flexible retainer element including only one flexible cable extending from a said connector device to the first torso panel. 23. A cut away vest as set forth in claim 22 wherein the at least one connector device being only one connector device and associated with the first, second and third connector elements and cooperating with the flexible cable to releasably secure the shoulder straps, waist belt and cummerbund to the second torso panel. 24. A cut away vest as set forth in claim 21 wherein each of the shoulder straps, waist belt side portions and cummerbund side portions having a plurality of first, second and third connector elements respectively in spaced apart relation to provide adjustability of length of the shoulder straps, waist belt, and cummerbund. 25. A cut away vest as set forth in claim 1 wherein the connector device including a single flexible loop attached to the second torso panel and extendible through holes comprising first, second and third connector elements in the shoulder straps, waist belt, and cummerbund. 26. A cut away vest as set forth in claim 8 wherein the flexible retainer element including only one flexible cable extending from a said connector device to the front torso panel. 27. A cut away vest as set forth in claim 26 wherein the at least one connector device being only one connector device and associated with the first, second and third connector elements and cooperating with the flexible cable to releasably secure the shoulder straps, waist belt and cummerbund to the second torso panel. 28. A cut away vest as set forth in claim 27 wherein each of the shoulder straps, waist belt side portions and cummerbund side portions having a plurality of first, second and third connector elements respectively in spaced apart relation to provide adjustability of length of the shoulder straps, waist belt, and cummerbund. 29. A cut away vest as set forth in claim 8 wherein the connector device including a single flexible loop attached to the second torso panel and extendible through holes comprising first, second and third connector elements in the shoulder straps, waist belt, and cummerbund. 30. A cut away vest as set forth in claim 8 wherein the flexible retainer element including a single flexible cable extending from a said connector device to the front torso panel.